Adecco announces acquisition of Knightsbridge Human Capital Solutions

Knightsbridge is the market leader in Canada in career transition, talent and leadership development and recruitment services, with revenues of CAD 56 million in 2014 from these activities. Knightsbridge will be combined with Adecco subsidiary Lee Hecht Harrison, the global leader in career transition and talent mobility.

“Knightsbridge joining forces with Lee Hecht Harrison will significantly benefit the clients of both organizations in Canada and around the world,” said Peter Alcide, President of Lee Hecht Harrison. “Companies today seek to partner with organizations that can globally deliver world-class talent development and career transition services seamlessly and consistently. The combined organization in Canada will be co-branded and will enhance the market-leading services we offer companies to ensure they are best optimizing their talent.”

Adecco will acquire Knightsbridge’s Career Transition, Talent & Leadership Development, and Executive Search & Recruitment operations. Axsium, a Knightsbridge subsidiary that offers workforce management solutions, will be spun off into a separate company and is not being acquired.

The combination of Lee Hecht Harrison and Knightsbridge establishes Lee Hecht Harrison as the market leader for Human Capital Solutions in Canada and reinforces Lee Hecht Harrison’s leadership position in key markets around the world. The acquisition also deepens the breadth of services available to both Knightsbridge and Lee Hecht Harrison clients globally.

“We are delighted to be teaming up with Lee Hecht Harrison,” said David Shaw, Founder and CEO of Knightsbridge. “We have worked with Lee Hecht Harrison for many years and know their management team very well. Our vision from the beginning was to create a unique company with a breadth of expertise to better solve our clients’ human capital challenges. Knightsbridge and Lee Hecht Harrison’s complementary expertise and cultural fit will create an even stronger offering for our clients.”

The combination of Lee Hecht Harrison with Knightsbridge offers attractive synergy potential through the optimization of the combined footprint and back-office functions. The transaction will be financed with Adecco’s existing financial resources and is expected to be EVA-enhancing in the second year after closing. The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in Q2 2015.